Mayor Zohran Mamdani Announces Commissioners for International Affairs and Immigrant Affairs

Ana María Archila to lead Mayor’s Office of International Affairs 

  

Faiza Ali will head Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs  

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the appointments of Ana María Archila as Commissioner of International Affairs and Faiza Ali as Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.   

  

Archila, a longtime immigrant rights leader and former co-director of the New York Working Families Party (NYWFP), will serve as the city’s chief liaison to the United Nations and the State Department. Ali, who has served in the City Council for over a decade, most recently as the former Speaker’s Deputy Chief of Staff of Community Engagement, will lead the critical Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.  

  

The Commissioner for International Affairs is the City’s liaison with the United Nations, U.S. State Department and broader diplomatic community. In leading the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, Archila will advise city agencies on diplomatic matters, welcome foreign diplomats to New York and run leadership development programs like the NYC Junior Ambassadors. As commissioner, Archila will work to ensure New York City remains a welcoming home to the global community.  

  

“New York City has always belonged to the world—a city that immigrants helped build and one strengthened by our many languages and stories. I’m proud to welcome Ana María Archila into this administration to build on that legacy,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Through her leadership at the Working Families Party, she has helped lead a movement that puts working New Yorkers first and demands a government that does the same. She brings moral clarity and a deep commitment to the people who keep this city running. As Commissioner of International Affairs, she’ll continue to do the same as she ensures that the world continues to be welcome in the city we all call home.”   

   

“I’m deeply honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s transformative administration and to imbue into the Office of International Affairs his commitment to make New York a place where everyone can live with dignity,” said Ana María Archila. “New York City is where diplomats gather, and it’s also the home to millions of working-class New Yorkers from across the world, with hundreds of nationalities represented and languages spoken. In New York City, international relationships are built at the United Nations and across the five boroughs. I am excited to apply my 20-plus years of experience leading immigrant rights and economic justice organizations to the task of building strong relationships with diplomatic missions, governments and movements working to tackle the challenges of inequality, climate change and democratic backsliding.”  

   

About Ana María Archila  

   

Ana María Archila has been a leader in New York and nationally in the fight for immigrant rights for over two decades. Born in Colombia, Ana María has spent her entire adult life in New York. She co-founded and led several grassroots progressive organizations, including Make the Road New York and the Center for Popular Democracy.  

  

Throughout her career, Archila has led efforts for immigration reform, paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage and passing the New York Dream Act. She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 2022 and as a first-time candidate, won 213,210 votes. She most recently served as co-director of the NYWFP and played an integral role in the election of Mayor Mamdani.    

  

Faiza Ali will lead the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Ali is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and brings years of experience in community organizing and city government. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) advises the Mayor to ensure New York City takes care of its immigrant neighbors.  

  

“I am proud to appoint Faiza Ali as the next Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. As the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Faiza understands firsthand the promise and the precarity that define the immigrant experience in New York. She brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement and city government, and a proven record of leadership in advancing immigrant rights and services,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “At a time when immigrant New Yorkers face escalating attacks and uncertainty, this administration will not equivocate. We will defend our neighbors. We will expand access to services. And we will ensure that New York City remains a place where immigrants are not merely welcomed in words, but protected in policy, supported in practice, and able to live and work with the dignity they deserve.”  

  

"I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents from Pakistan who came to New York City with courage, an unshakable belief in possibility, and the determination to build a future here. This city gave us opportunity, stability, and the chance to put down roots, just as it has for generations of immigrants before us. It is an honor to serve as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. New York City is not just home to immigrants, it is powered by them. Our neighborhoods, our economy, our culture, and our future are shaped by people who arrived here seeking safety and opportunity. As Commissioner, I am committed to building a city that ensures every New Yorker, regardless of when they arrived or where they were born, can live, work, and raise families with dignity,” said Faiza Ali.  

  

About Faiza Ali  

  

Faiza Ali has spent more than a decade working in community engagement at the New York City Council. In 2014, she served as a Community Liaison before working her way to Director of the Community Engagement Division. Prior to joining the Council, Ali was the Advocacy & Civic Engagement Director for the Arab American Association of NY and co-founded the Muslim Democratic Club of New York. She also served as Director of Advocacy at the Arab American Association of New York, an organizer with Brooklyn Congregations United and Director of Community Affairs at CAIR-NY.  

  

Ali helped lead efforts to include two Muslim holidays in the New York City public school system and has fought for immigration reform and language access. She most recently served as First Deputy Chief of Staff at the City Council. As commissioner, Ali will work to increase the accessibility of city programs and benefits to non-English speaking New Yorkers and work collaboratively with other agencies to protects immigrants throughout the five boroughs.  

   

Air Quality Health Advisory Issued for New York City Metro Region

 

In Effect for Tuesday, February 17, 2026

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald are issuing an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, for the New York City Metro region due to light winds and limited atmospheric mixing. 

The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter  

The advisory will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.    

The Air Quality Health Advisory region consists of: New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

Fine Particulate Matter

Fine particulate matter (PM) consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g., vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere. 

Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5. 

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high. Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website. 

Additional information on PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is also available on DEC’s website or by PDF download. 

To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.

Mayor Mamdani Appoints Christina Farrell as Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management

 

Farrell brings more than two decades of experience in emergency management, most recently serving as first deputy commissioner of NYCEM 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced his appointment of Christina Farrell as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), the agency responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning, response and recovery.    

“New York City faces extraordinary challenges, and meeting them demands steady, experienced leadership. There is no one better prepared to lead NYCEM than Christina Farrell. Over three decades in public service—and in recent years as First Deputy Commissioner—she has helped guide our city through crisis after crisis with clarity and resolve. I’m proud to work alongside Commissioner Farrell to strengthen our preparedness and protect every New Yorker,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.   

  

“I’m honored to be appointed Commissioner of NYCEM, an agency that protects 8.5 million New Yorkers when they need us most, and to continue serving alongside the dedicated professionals who do this work every day,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “I’m grateful to Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the opportunity to lead this exceptional team into a new era for our city. The Mayor’s vision is to deepen what New Yorkers expect from government and deliver with excellence, accountability, and integrity. For emergency management, that means ensuring preparedness reaches every neighborhood, that our response is coordinated and effective, and that New Yorkers can trust we’ll be there when crisis strikes. Together with our partners across government and the community, we’ll build the resilient, prepared city that New Yorkers deserve.”  

  

“Commissioner Farrell's three decades of experience, including 23 years at NYCEM, equip her with the knowledge and vision to guide New York City through any emergency,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “After helping lead New York through a number of crises, we know Commissioner Farrell will bring a multidimensional approach to emergency preparedness and responsiveness, and I look forward to continuing our work with her to protect the millions of people who call our city home.”  

  

“For more than two decades, Christina Farrell has guided New York City through countless emergencies with clear, decisive leadership,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “From Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic to extreme heat emergencies and major blackouts, she has managed complex crises with a steady hand and ensured our communities have the resources they need. New Yorkers are lucky to have her at the helm of NYCEM, and I look forward to continuing our important work together.”  

  

“For more than three decades, Christina Farrell has been a steady hand and calming presence during our City’s most challenging days. I am so excited that she’s taking the well-deserved reins as head of NYCEM, and look forward to continued partnership in the days ahead,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.  

  

“Few people in city government, if any, know more about emergency management response, and the complex interagency dynamics that response entails, than Christina Farrell,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “When disaster strikes, it is our partners at New York City Emergency Management that take the lead on making sure all of the moving parts in government are working together to best protect and serve the public. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Christina for years, and New Yorkers should rest easy knowing that that such a competent, experienced and dedicated public servant will be in charge of these critical operations.”  

  

“Christina Farrell is a proven leader with deep experience in emergency preparedness and response, and she understands firsthand what it takes to keep New Yorkers safe during increasingly complex and climate-driven events,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “We look forward to continuing our close partnership with NYCEM to strengthen storm response, advance long-term resilience, and ensure our infrastructure and communities are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.”  

  

“When it comes to the way our City prepares for and responds to disasters, there is no one with more experience than Commissioner Farrell, and in the years we have worked together, I have seen her leading more command centers, joint operations, and comprehensive after-action reviews than I can count. NYCEM staff are among the first on scene in difficult times, and I know she has the expertise and creativity to lead this critical agency and keep our City safe,” said Javier Lojan, Acting Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation.  

  

“Commissioner Farrell’s steady leadership and deep institutional knowledge will strengthen our city’s ability to safeguard communities before, during, and after emergencies,” said NYC Health Department Acting Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michelle Morse. “Public health and emergency management go hand-in-hand, especially in moments of crisis. Commissioner Farrell’s commitment to preparedness and coordinated response will ensure our efforts center equity and protect all New Yorkers, even when dealing with emergencies.”  

  

About Christina Farrell  

  

Farrell is a lifelong public servant who has served as first deputy commissioner of NYCEM since October 2021. In that position, she led the City’s emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts, working closely with City leadership and regional, state and federal partners on emergency management matters.   

  

Farrell has led the city through some of the most complex crises of the past two decades, including the 2003 citywide blackout, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.  

  

Since joining the agency in 2003, as its first director of grants, Farrell created the agency’s external affairs division, serving first as assistant commissioner and then as deputy commissioner. In those roles, she oversaw programs including Community Emergency Response Teams and Ready New York, a public education initiative and strengthened partnerships with elected officials, community organizations, neighborhood leaders and private and nonprofit sector partners.  

  

Farrell began serving the City of New York in 1994 as a coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator. She also served as the deputy director of the NYC High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the deputy director and director of the Mayor’s Office of Grants Administration, where she worked on the creation of the Twin Towers Fund after 9/11.  

Permits Filed for 480 Rosedale Avenue in Clason Point, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a three-story residential building at 480 Rosedale Avenue in Clason Point, The Bronx. Located near the intersection of Rosedale Avenue and Lacombe Avenue, the lot is closest to the St. Lawrence Avenue subway station, served by the 6 train. Adam Manesh is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 34-foot-tall development will yield 40,239 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 59 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 682 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a cellar with bike storage, 41-foot-long rear yard, and 30 enclosed parking spaces.

Lawrence Pinner of Pinner Architecture PLLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Deadly Evasion: Illegal Immigrant Flees ICE, Crashes Car, and Kills Innocent Driver

 

Illegal alien is charged with homicide, this dangerous evasion comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and provided resources and tips for how to openly defy ICE

After months of sanctuary politicians encouraging and instructing illegal aliens to resist and evade federal law enforcement, a criminal illegal alien attempting to flee from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement struck and killed a motorist in Savannah, Georgia.

On February 16, ICE law enforcement officers attempted to apprehend Oscar Vasquez Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala who was issued a final order of removal by a federal judge in 2024. He entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location.

During the operation, officers observed Vasquez Lopez enter a vehicle and they attempted a traffic stop. Vasquez Lopez initially complied, but then fled the scene, making a reckless U-turn and running a red light, colliding into a civilian vehicle. The civilian driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Vasquez Lopez is in custody at the hospital with minor injuries and is being charged by the Chatham County Police Department with vehicular homicide.

“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest—a felony,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “These dangerous tactics are putting people’s lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers, and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life.”

This dangerous attempt to evade arrest comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and provided resources and tips for how to openly defy ICE:

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a webinar providing tips for illegal aliens to evade arrests at homes, workplaces, or in public.
• Dan Goldman posted a video online calling on illegal aliens to make a plan for ICE encounters.
• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued multilingual flyers and online resources advising illegal aliens on how to evade arrest.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom released guides and sanctuary laws advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest.

We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.

To report crimes or suspicious activity, call 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit a tip online.

Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Announce $1.5 Billion to Help Address City Fiscal Challenges

 

Governor commits $1 billion in City Fiscal Year 26 & $510 million in City Fiscal Year 27, including $510 million in recurring funding 

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York State will allocate an additional $1.5 billion in operating expenses over two years to help address New York City’s fiscal challenges. 

  

This additional funding includes $510 million in recurring funding targeted towards costs that had shifted from the state to New York City under prior administrations, including approximately $300 million for youth programming, a restoration of $150 million in sales tax receipts that would have otherwise been retained by the state and $60 million for public health. The remaining $500 million will be targeted to shared priorities to be determined in subsequent discussions. 

  

“Working New Yorkers did not create this budget crisis and they should not be the ones to pay for it. After years of staggering fiscal mismanagement under the previous administration, our city deserves responsible and collaborative leadership,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “I am heartened by this budgetary progress and Governor Hochul’s partnership at this critical moment. This is what it looks like to begin a new, productive and fair relationship between City Hall and Albany – focused on delivering for working New Yorkers.” 

  

“A strong New York City means a stronger New York State. This investment protects services and puts the city on stable financial footing,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “New Yorkers expect the state and the city to work together, and I’m proud to partner with the Mayor to deliver for working families.” 

  

Governor Hochul has increased support for New York City every year since taking office. This investment builds on her recent commitment to expand universal child care in New York City.

 

In recent weeks, the Mayor reduced New York City’s budget gap to $7 billion by deploying in-year reserves, committing to an agency savings plan and incorporating higher-than-expected revenues. Together, the Mayor and Governor are forging a renewed partnership between City Hall and Albany focused on restoring fiscal responsibility and building a balanced budget that delivers for working New Yorkers.

The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School Nears Completion At 647 Elton Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx

 

Construction is nearing completion on The Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball School, a five-story building at 647 Elton Avenue in Melrose, The Bronx. Designed in a collaboration between ESKW/Architects and IMC Architecture and developed by Pillar Property Management, the 69,000-square-foot structure is named after New York Knicks basketball player Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. The facility will feature an 8,000-square-foot gymnasium, 27 classrooms, a library and media production studio, and a dedicated broadcast studio with a green screen.

The property is located at the three-way intersection of Elton Avenue, Third Avenue, and East 153rd Street.

Construction broke ground in October 2024, and the structure now stands almost fully enclosed in its façade of red and gray brick surrounding a grid of recessed windows. Work is still finishing up on the ground floor, which remains obscured by the sidewalk shed.

647 Elton Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.

The rendering in the main photo previews the finished look of the ground floor. The northeast corner will feature an angled double-height cutout clad in floor-to-ceiling glass, providing views into the lobby atrium. Signage for the facility will be located above on the eastern elevation along Elton Avenue.

The property was formerly occupied by a row of residential buildings between 647 and 653 Elton Avenue, as seen in the below Google Street View image from before the start of demolition.

647 Elton Avenue. Image via Google Maps.

The facility will also include a student dining center and lounge in the cellar, which will serve as a multi-functional space for social gatherings and studying. A lounge on the second floor will offer VIP seating for games. There will also be a library with a media center and conference room and an executive director’s office. The third through fifth floors will primarily house classrooms. The school is planned to serve up to 440 students from grades nine through 12.

The nearest subways from the ground-up development are the 2 and 5 trains at the 3rd Avenue–149th Street station to the south.

Construction on 647 Elton Avenue is to finish in the next few months.

“There are more American delegates here than have ever been at the Munich Security Conference. Why do you think it’s important that you’re here representing the US?”

At the Munich Security Conference, someone asked me, “There are more American delegates here than have ever been at the Munich Security Conference. Why do you think it’s important that you’re here representing the US?”

This is a moment where we are seeing our presidential administration tear apart the Transatlantic Partnership, rip up every democratic norm, really calling into question — as was mentioned by Canadian Prime Minister Carney at the World Economic Forum — the rules-based order that we have.

So I think that one of the reasons why, not just myself but many Democrats that are here as well, is that we want to tell a larger story.

What is happening is indeed very grave. We are in a new era, domestically and globally.

There have been many leaders who’ve said, “We will go back.” And I think that we have to recognize that we are in a new day, and in a new time.

But that does not mean that the majority of Americans are ready to walk away from a rules-based order, or that we’re ready to walk away from our commitment to democracy.

We identify that hypocrisy is vulnerability. What we are seeking is a return to a rules-based order that eliminates the hypocrisies, when too often in the West we look the other way from inconvenient populations to act out these paradoxes: whether it’s kidnapping a foreign head of state, threatening our allies to colonize Greenland, or looking the other way in a genocide.

Hypocrisies are vulnerabilities, and they threaten democracies globally.

Many of us are here to say, we are here and we are ready for the next chapter — not to have the world turn to isolation, but to deepen our partnership on greater commitment to integrity and our values.